Needle Tip for Handpiece with NFC Function

The present disclosure relates to a needle tip that is used in a handpiece for skin beauty treatment and treatment and, more particularly, to a needle tip for a handpiece having a near field communication (NFC) function capable of performing wireless communication with the outside in a contactless manner.

Various procedures for skin beauty treatment or obesity treatment are recently developed. There is a growing interest in a procedure that is performed in an invasive manner, among such various procedures.

A radio frequency (RF) skin beauty treatment (or treatment) device using a needle electrode includes a needle electrode that penetrates a skin tissue, a handpiece to which the needle electrode is coupled, and an energy source that is connected to the handpiece and that transmits RF energy to the needle electrode. The RF skin beauty treatment (or treatment) device operates according to the principle in which the needle electrode penetrates a desired portion within the skin and the RF energy is transmitted to the skin tissue.

In this case, in order to guarantee hygiene, the needle electrode is manufactured in the form of a separate disposable product and detachably mounted on the handpiece. That is, a tip including the needle electrode is manufactured in the form of a consumable part that is detachably mounted at the end of the handpiece and can be replaced and mounted, if necessary.

However, the needle tip for the handpiece, which is manufactured in the form of a consumable part as described above, is manufactured in various types according to the purposes of treatment of the skin. Accordingly, there is a need to efficiently manage the needle tip.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a needle tip for a handpiece having an NFC function, which can be effectively used in unique information, inventory management, and history management of the needle tip because an NFC chip capable of performing wireless communication with the outside in a contactless manner is installed within the needle tip mounted on a handpiece.

In an embodiment, a needle tip for a handpiece provided at a front end of the handpiece for skin beauty treatment and treatment in a way to be replaceable and mountable includes a body detachably coupled to the front end of the handpiece, a first substrate fixed and installed within the body, having an opening formed at a center thereof, and electrically connected to a plurality of radio frequency (RF) supply terminals exposed to the front end of the handpiece, a second substrate movably installed within the body and having a plurality of micro needles mounted thereon, a holder having one end coupled to a driving shaft of the handpiece through the opening of the first substrate and having the other end coupled to the second substrate, and a pair of connection pins connected to the second substrate and configured to electrically connect the first substrate and the second substrate. An NFC chip in which information related to the needle tip is stored and configured to perform contactless wireless communication with an external NFC terminal is installed in the first substrate.

In this case, a plurality of RF input electrodes connected to the plurality of RF supply terminals may be formed on a first surface of the first substrate that faces the plurality of RF supply terminals. A pair of RF output electrodes that is circuit-connected to the plurality of RF input electrodes and that is connected to the pair of connection pins may be formed on a second surface of the first substrate on a side opposite to the first surface.

In this case, the NFC chip may be disposed around the opening of the second surface, and is disposed at a location through which a virtual second straight line that vertically intersects the center of a virtual first straight line that connects the pair of RF output electrodes passes.

Furthermore, a DC power electrode, electrodes for data communication, and a ground electrode that are circuit-connected to the NFC chip may be arranged to form a group in one area around the opening in the first surface of the first substrate.

In this case, the DC power electrode, the electrodes for data communication, and the ground electrode may be disposed at locations at which the DC power electrode, the electrodes for data communication, and the ground electrode face the plurality of RF input electrodes with the opening interposed therebetween.

Furthermore, four RF input electrodes may be arranged in a row around the opening.

Furthermore, the body may include a first body detachably coupled to the front end of the handpiece and having the first substrate fixed and installed therein and a second body detachably coupled to the first body, having the second substrate movably installed therein, and having a plurality of holes through which the micro needles are able to enter and exit formed at a front end thereof.

Furthermore, the needle tip may further include a needle cap detachably coupled to a front end of the body in which the micro needles are disposed.

According to the needle tip structure for a handpiece according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the NFC chip in which information related to a corresponding needle tip is stored is installed on the substrate within the needle tip. Accordingly, it is possible to provide usefulness in inventory management, history management, and shipment management of a needle tip because wireless communication with an external NFC terminal can be performed in a contactless manner and information stored in the NFC chip can be read/written.

In particular, there are advantages in that a manufacturer can use the needle tip to track and manage the production, distribution, and sales processes of the needle tip and the history and inventory management of a product is further facilitated because the movement and quality of the needle tip can be tracked by assigning a unique identifier to each needle tip. Furthermore, there are advantages in that a genuine product can be certified and illegal duplication can be prevented because a digital signature is included in the needle tip and the illegal distribution of the needle tip can also be prevented because information on a country in which the needle tip is sold is written in the needle tip and a device including the needle tip is driven only when a country in which the device is sold and a country in which the needle tip is sold are matched. Furthermore, in terms of the production of the needle tip, a production process can be simplified and production efficiency can be improved because various types of information can be written in the needle tip in an individually packaged state after all of production processes are finished.

Furthermore, in terms of practical use of the needle tip, the specifications of individually packaged needle tip products can be easily identified by reading them with an NFC terminal, thereby providing convenience and efficiency in use. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent a problem in that an error occurs in a procedure due to a needle tip not fit for the purpose of use, which is mounted on the handpiece, because an user can check accurate specification information of the needle tip even without opening packaging including the needle tip.

Furthermore, there are advantages in that a user can conveniently perform a procedure even without manually operating the switch included in the handpiece and efficiency and accuracy of a procedure can be improved because after the needle tip is mounted on the handpiece, the handpiece can automatically drive the driving unit and the RF generation unit in accordance with the type of needle tip mounted on the handpiece by accessing information stored in the NFC chip of the needle tip in a wired manner.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

illustrates a form in which a needle tip according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has been mounted on the front end of a handpiece.illustrates a form in which the needle tip according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has been separated from the front end of the handpiece.

Referring to, a needle tipaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure is mounted on the front end (i.e., the top of a handpiecein) of the handpiece. The needle tipis mounted on the front end of the handpiecein a cartridge manner in a way to be replaceable, if necessary.

The needle tipincludes a plurality of micro needlesto which a radio frequency (RF) transmitted by the handpieceis applied. The micro needleincluded in the needle tippenetrate a target skin tissue of a procedure target and transfers RF heat energy to the skin tissue.

The needle tipmay be provided in several types in which the number of micro needlesand an arrangement form of the micro needlesare different according to the purpose of use. An user (or practitioner) may select the needle tipthat is fit for a procedure, may mount the needle tipon the handpiece, and may perform a procedure task.

The handpieceis connected to a main body of a skin beauty treatment device (not illustrated) through a cable, and it drives a needle assemblywithin the needle tipand transfers an RF current to the needle assembly.

Although not illustrated in the drawings, the handpieceincludes a driving unit that drives the micro needlewithin the needle tipback and forth in a straight line, an RF generation unit that generates an RF that is transferred to the micro needle, and a control unit that controls the driving unit and the RF generation unit.

The driving unit may move the needle assemblyon which the micro needlehas been mounted in forward and backward directions (in up and down directions in) within a predetermined stroke range. The RF generation unit may transfer power supplied by the main body of the skin beauty treatment device to the micro needleby converting the power in the form of an RF current pulse. Various forms, such as a motor, a ball screw, a pneumatic actuator, and an electromagnet actuator, may be applied as the driving unit.

The control unit is connected to various manipulation buttons provided on an external surface or internal surface of the handpiece, and may control operations of the driving unit and the RF generation unit by generating a control signal through a manipulation button by a user or a manipulation of a device interface.

As illustrated in, a part of a driving shaftconnected to the driving unit within the handpieceis exposed to the outside of the front end of the handpiece. The driving shaftthat is exposed to the front end of the handpieceis coupled to a holderof the needle assemblywithin the needle tip. Accordingly, when the driving unit operates, the needle assemblycoupled to the driving shaftmay be moved in forward and backward directions (i.e., in up and down directions in) of the handpiece.

A plurality of RF supply terminalsthat supplies an RF current generated by the RF generation unit to the micro needlewithin the needle tipis provided around the driving shaftexposed to the front end of the handpiece.

The plurality of RF supply terminalsdisposed around the driving shaftis electrically connected to a first substrateof the needle tipwhen the needle tipis mounted on the front end of the handpiece. That is, the plurality of RF supply terminalsis electrically connected to a plurality of RF input electrodesformed in the first substrateof the needle tip, and transfers an RF current to the needle assemblywithin the needle tip.

The needle tipaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure has a near field communication (NFC) function which enables short distance communication within an external terminal. That is, an NFC chipis mounted within the needle tipaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and may perform short-distance wireless communication with an external NFC terminal(refer to) in a contactless manner.

is a separation perspective view illustrating components of the needle tip in which the NFC chip has been embedded in detail.is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cross-sectional structure of the needle tip in which the NFC chip has been embedded.

Referring to, the needle tipincludes a body, the needle assembly, and a needle cap.

The bodyhas an internal space in which the needle assemblycan be accommodated, and is detachably coupled to the front end of the handpiece. The driving shaftof the handpieceis connected to the internal space of the body. The needle assemblycapable of moving in the forward and backward directions (in the up and down directions in the drawings) of the handpieceis disposed in the internal space.

The bodyincludes a first bodyand a second bodyhaving two spit shapes. That is, the bodyis formed by the mutual coupling of the first bodyand the second bodythat are split into two. In this case, the first bodyand the second bodymay be detachably coupled. As the bodyhas a structure in which the body can be separated into the two bodies as described above, the needle assemblycan be easily installed in the internal space of the body.

The first bodythat forms a lower (rear part) structure of the bodyis detachably coupled to the front end of the handpiece. The first substratethat electrically connects the handpieceand the needle assemblyis installed within the first body. That is, the first substrateis installed as a structure in which the first substratehas been fixed within the first body, and functions to electrically connect the plurality of RF supply terminalsexposed to the front end of the handpieceand the needle assembly.

The second bodythat forms an upper (front part) structure of the bodyis detachably coupled to a front end (top) of the first body. The needle assemblythat is connected to the driving shaftof the handpieceis disposed within the second body. The needle assemblyconnected to the driving shaftof the handpiecemay be moved in the forward and backward directions (in the up and down directions in the drawings) within the second bodywhen the driving shaftoperates.

A contact surfacethat is closely attached to the skin of a procedure subject is formed at a front end of the second body. Furthermore, a plurality of needle holesis formed in the contact surfaceso that the plurality of micro needlesprovided in the needle assemblycan enter the inside of the contact surfaceand exit the contact surface.

Upon procedure using the needle tip, when the needle assemblyis advanced through the driving unit of the handpiecein the state in which the skin of the procedure target has been pressed on the contact surfaceof the second body, the micro needleis drawn to the outside of the needle hole, and penetrates a skin tissue within the skin. A skin beauty treatment task and a treatment task can be performed by applying an RF to the micro needlethrough the RF generation unit in this state so that heat energy is transferred to the skin tissue.

The first substratefixed within the first bodyfunctions to electrically connect the handpieceand the needle assembly. A first surface Sof the first substrate, which is disposed at the bottom of the first substratein, is connected to the plurality of RF supply terminalsof the handpiece. A second surface Sof the first substrate, which is disposed at the top of the first substrateon a side opposite to the first surface S, is connected to a pair of connection pinsof the needle assembly. In this case, the first surface Sof the first substraterefers to a surface in a direction toward the handpiece. The second surface Srefers to a surface in a direction toward the micro needle.

The needle assemblyincludes the plurality of micro needles, a second substrateon which the plurality of micro needlesis mounted, the holderthat supports the second substrate, and the pair of connection pinsconnected to the second substratethrough the holder. The needle assemblyhaving such a construction is connected to the driving shaftof the handpiece, and may be moved in the forward and backward directions within a predetermined stroke range along with the driving shaft. Accordingly, the micro needlemay protrude to the outside of the second bodyin the forward and backward directions.

The second substrateon which the plurality of micro needlesis mounted is seated at the end of the holderon one side thereof, and is coupled to the holder.

The holdersupports the second substrateon which the plurality of micro needlesis mounted and also enables a connection with the driving shaftof the handpiece. That is, a pillar unit of the holderat the center thereof is coupled to the driving shaftof the handpiecethrough the top of the first bodyand the first substrate.

The pair of connection pinsis connected to both opposite sides of the second substrate. The pair of connection pinsconnected to the second substrateis electrically connected to the first substratethrough the holder. In this case, the end of each of the pair of connection pinsmay be connected to the first substratethrough a closed top of the first body. As the pair of connection pinsconnected to the second substrateas described above electrically connects the first substrateand the second substrate, an RF current that is introduced from the handpieceto the first substratecan be introduced into the second substratethrough the pair of connection pins.

The pair of connection pinsthat connects the first substrateand the second substratemay have a pogo pin structure having a retractile length. That is, each of the pair of the connection pinsis formed to have the pogo pin structure in which a spring is mounted within the connection pin, and may be constructed to be retractile in a length direction thereof. As the pair of connection pinsis each constructed to have the pogo pin structure in which each connection pin is retractile in the length direction as described above, the second substratecan also maintain an electrical connection state with the first substratethrough the pair of connection pinsthat is retractile although the needle assemblyis moved in the forward and backward directions within the second body.

Furthermore, the needle capcapable of covering the micro needleso that the micro needleis not exposed to the outside is coupled to the front end of the second body. In this case, the needle capis coupled to the front end of the second bodyas a structure in which the needle capis detachable from the front end of the second body. Accordingly, a procedure task can be performed in the state in which the needle holehas been exposed to the outside by separating the needle capfrom the second body.

The needle tipaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes the NFC chipthat enables short-distance wireless communication with the external NFC terminal(refer to). The NFC chipof the needle tipis installed in a part of the first substratethat electrically connects the needle assemblyand the handpiece.

is a perspective view illustrating a form in which the NFC chip has been installed on the first substrate of the needle tip.illustrate plan and rear structures of the first substrate illustrated in. Furthermore,illustrates a structure of the front end of the handpiece in which the plurality of RF supply terminals and signal transmission terminals connected to the plurality of RF input electrodes and signal transmission electrodes formed in the first substrate, respectively, are arranged.

Referring to, in the needle tipaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first substrateis fixed and installed in the internal space of the first bodythat is directly coupled to the handpiece.